Chapter Ten - Extraction of essential oils

Abstract

Extraction is one of the most important processes of collecting and purifying lipophilic chemicals. The goal of any extraction technique is to create the largest quantity of target lipophilic molecules in the resulting extract with the least amount of contaminants from other undesirable compounds. Hence, several extraction processes are used for this purpose. Even though the thermally sensitive components get damaged or destroyed during traditional extraction methods such practices are still being utilized. They are time-consuming methods with limited selectivity and a lot of solvent consumption, thus they are not green technology. Organic solvents have a variety of environmental and health consequences. Novel strategies are being researched and developed to address these obstacles. Green solvents are gaining popularity in these extraction procedures. Green solvents do not pollute the environment. Aqueous enzymatic extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, supercritical fluid technology, ultrasound-assisted extraction, high-pressure-assisted extraction, and pulsed electric field-assisted extraction are among the novel techniques discussed. Because they utilize renewable feedstock and reduce the chemical load and emissions caused by the use of organic solvents, they are considered environmentally friendly processes. They also have a less dangerous chemical synthesis. Furthermore, these innovative extraction techniques are used to avoid nutritional and sensory alterations that occur during traditional heat treatment. Hence, efforts must be made to build more ecologically sustainable production processes so that safe and high-quality green products can be developed.